She leaned closer and he grabbed her. The leech slipped out of her hands. He yanked her close and devoured her mouth. He smelled like blood, sweat, and man. All three things screamed“alive” and that was all that mattered. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back.
He pulled back, his gaze boring into her. “I love you, Nissa.”
Her heart stopped and she felt like the ground had dropped away beneath her. “What?”
“I’ve been in love with you a long time. I think from the first time you told me you were going to arrest my ass. Then I caught you checking out my ass. I couldn’t believe such a beautiful, smart, sexy woman might be interested in a smuggler like me.” A sheepish smile. “Why do you think youalmostcaught me all those times?”
A lump of pain lodged in her chest. “You wanted me to catch you?”
“I just wanted to see you.”
Full-blown panic rushed through her. She didn’t know if it was because of his confession or because of this terrible situation. “Justyn, you arenotgoing to die here. I won’t let you.”
“Sweet, stubborn Nissa.” His face hardened. “You need to go now.”
“Screw you, Justyn Phoenix.” She leaped to her feet. “Everybody who has ever said they loved me has never loved me enough to fight. My mother died. My father’s love comes with conditions. My brother said he loved me, right up until he left and became a mass murderer.”
“Nissa—”
She kept going. She was so sick of denying herself the things she really wanted. “No other man haseversaid the words to me, but now you do and you expect me to believe it, even though you want to die here like a martyr?”
“I want you to live!” he shouted.
“And I want you to live, too!” she shouted back.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Pain was like fire in his blood, but Justyn was entranced by an enraged Nissa.
She reached down, gripped the leech-creature on his arm again and gave a mighty tug—this one fueled by her incandescent anger.
The creature came out in a single rush.
Justyn groaned, the pain beyond outrageous, and fought the need to be sick.
Nissa fell backward on her ass, the black creature wriggling around in her hand. She stared at it for a stunned second. “It’s not a leech, it’s aplant.” Her nose wrinkled and she tossed it on the floor. Then she grabbed the laser cutter, and before it could slither away, she sliced it to pieces.
Justyn slapped a palm over the wound on his arm and tried to calm his harsh panting.
She scrambled back to him. “Okay?”
He swallowed. “I will be.” Thanks to one stubborn, courageous Patrol captain.
She set the medscope over the ugly gash and in seconds, it healed up.
Instantly, he felt better. “Thank you.” He grabbed her and tugged her to his chest. “For everything.”
She sank down beside him and buried her face in his tattered shirt. Her fingers dug into him, holding on tight. He let the warmth of her body soak into him.
After a few minutes, she pulled back. “We need to get to the cockpit.”
“Agreed.”
“You up for a stroll?”
He reached for a smile. “Only if you agree to hold my hand.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re sounding more like yourself.”
